What Is the Minimum Order for Custom Jerseys for Offices?

The 2026 World Cup is underway, and football fever is at its peak. In offices, WhatsApp groups are buzzing with plans for watch parties. In futsal communities, the topic of custom jerseys has been under discussion since last week. Everyone is excited — until one question inevitably comes up and often stops the momentum: "So, what's the minimum order?"

This simple question turns out not to have a single answer. The minimum order for custom jerseys varies widely depending on the type of jersey, the customization technique chosen, the type of vendor, and — most importantly — how flexible that vendor is in handling small orders.

This article answers that question thoroughly and honestly — including the factors that influence minimum orders, realistic number ranges for various situations, and strategies for getting quality custom jerseys even if your order isn't very large.

Why Do Minimum Orders Exist?

Before discussing the numbers, it's important to understand why apparel vendors set minimum orders — because this understanding will help you negotiate and make smarter decisions.

Setup costs that can't be spread evenly across a small number of units. Every production process has fixed costs that must be incurred regardless of how many units are produced. For screen printing, for example, the cost of making a screen is the same whether the order is 10 shirts or 1,000 shirts. If there are only 10 units, this setup cost makes the price per unit very expensive — uneconomical for both vendor and client.

Machine and operator time efficiency. Setting up a sublimation machine, configuring embroidery parameters, or arranging a cutting pattern — all of these take roughly the same amount of time regardless of production volume. For 5 units, the setup time can end up longer than the production time itself.

Minimum material procurement. Fabric and textile suppliers generally sell by the roll or pack, with a certain minimum volume. If an order is too small, the vendor has to buy more material than is needed — or turn the order down because there's no matching stock available.

Business profitability. Every order requires resources to process — communication, design, production, QC, and shipping. An order that's too small with thin margins can become an actual loss compared to the overhead costs involved.

Minimum Order Ranges by Customization Technique

This is the most important factor in determining the minimum order for your custom jersey:

Full-Print Sublimation

Sublimation is the most popular technique for sports jerseys — the colors are very vivid, the design can cover the entire surface of the jersey, and there's no ink layer that can be felt on top of the fabric. However, sublimation requires a longer production process than other techniques.

Minimum order for sublimation:

• Small-scale garment makers: 10–20 pcs
• Medium-scale garment makers: 20–50 pcs
• Large garment factories: 100–500 pcs

For futsal communities or small office teams, target small-to-medium-scale garment vendors that accept a minimum order of 10–20 pcs for sublimation. Although the price per unit is higher than for large orders, this is far more realistic for the needs of an 11–15 person team.

DTF (Direct to Film) Printing

DTF is a game-changer for small orders — there's no screen setup, no minimum ink wasted, and it can technically handle full-color designs even for just a single unit.

Minimum order for DTF:

• Most vendors: starting from 5–10 pcs
• Some vendors with modern machines: can accept 1–3 pcs for prototypes or individual orders

DTF is the best choice if your community or office team only has 5–10 people and can't meet the sublimation minimum order. The visual quality is very good, although there's a slight textured layer on the fabric that can be felt to the touch.

Plastisol Screen Printing

Plastisol screen printing requires making a physical screen for each color — and this is what makes its minimum order higher than DTF.

Minimum order for plastisol:

• 1-color design: starting from 12–24 pcs
• 2-color design: starting from 24–50 pcs
• 3+ color design: starting from 50–100 pcs

For communities or offices that want a simple design with 1–2 colors, plastisol is a very economical choice in the 24–50 pcs range because the cost per unit is much lower than DTF at that volume.

Embroidery

Embroidery uses a computerized machine that reads a digital file and stitches thread directly onto the fabric — there's no significant physical setup like a screen-printing screen.

Minimum order for embroidery:

• Most vendors: starting from 12–24 pcs
• Some small vendors: accept under 10 pcs with a separate setup fee

Embroidery is generally used for a logo on the chest of a jersey, not for a full design — so it's usually combined with another technique (for example, a sublimation jersey plus an embroidered company logo).

Minimum Order Ranges by Type of Jersey

In addition to the customization technique, the type of jersey ordered also affects the minimum order:

Futsal / Football Jerseys (Sublimation)

For an official team (11 players plus substitutes): the ideal number is 15–18 pcs — 11 for starting players, 4–5 substitutes, plus 1–2 extra. This amount is already enough to meet the minimum order of most sublimation vendors.

Typical minimum order: 15–20 pcs

Office Watch-Party T-Shirts

Watch-party t-shirts typically use combed cotton or CVC fabric with DTF or plastisol printing. Needs vary widely by office — from 10 people at a small startup to hundreds of employees at a large company.

Typical minimum order:

• DTF printing: 10–15 pcs
• 1-color plastisol printing: 24 pcs
• 2+ color plastisol printing: 36–50 pcs

Community Team Jerseys

Running, cycling, or other sports communities with fewer members than a futsal team often face minimum-order challenges. For a community of 8–12 people, the best options are:

• DTF for a flexible, low minimum order
• Sublimation if the vendor accepts a minimum of 10 pcs

Polo Shirts or Premium T-Shirts for Offices

For offices that want polo shirts with an embroidered logo and more subtle World Cup elements:

Typical minimum order: 24–36 pcs for standard embroidered polo shirts

Quick Reference Table: Custom Jersey Minimum Orders

Strategies for Getting Custom Jerseys Even with a Small Order

If your team or employee headcount is below the vendor's minimum order, here are strategies you can apply:

Strategy 1: Combine Orders from Multiple Teams or Divisions

This is the most effective strategy and most often produces the best solution. If the office futsal team only has 11 people, invite other divisions to join a single large order — even if the designs differ (different names and numbers), as long as the jersey type and base color are the same, many vendors can handle it in one production batch.

An order of 11 + 11 + 11 from three different divisions = 33 pcs total, which already meets the minimum order of most sublimation vendors, with a better price per unit than each division ordering separately.

Strategy 2: Add Backup Stock to Meet the Minimum

Instead of ordering exactly 10 pcs when the minimum order is 12 pcs, add 2–3 extra pcs as backup stock for new members or damaged replacements. The extra cost for 2–3 units is usually very small compared to the value of the peace of mind that comes from having backup stock.

Strategy 3: Choose a Technique with a Lower Minimum Order

If your design isn't too complex, choose a technique with a lower minimum order. DTF printing with a minimum of 10 pcs is a very solid alternative for small communities that can't meet a sublimation minimum of 20 pcs.

Strategy 4: Look for a Vendor That Offers "Small Batch Orders"

Not all vendors set the same minimum order. Small- and medium-scale garment vendors are usually more flexible about accepting small orders, even if the price per unit is higher. For truly small teams (5–8 people), look for a vendor that explicitly offers small batch orders — some already advertise this on their social media or website.

Strategy 5: Coordinate Through a Reseller or Jersey Agent

Some custom jersey resellers collect orders from various small clients and combine them into one large order to the vendor — allowing each client to get a better price even if they're ordering only a small amount. This system is similar to the group-buying principle common on e-commerce platforms.

The Relationship Between Minimum Order and Price per Unit

This is information that vendors often don't disclose transparently — but it's very important for budget planning:

The price per unit of a custom jersey isn't fixed. It drops significantly as order volume increases. Here's an illustration for a dry-fit sublimation jersey (prices are illustrative):

Prices vary widely depending on material specifications, design complexity, customization technique, and vendor. Use this as a general reference, not a fixed benchmark.

This table shows that adding just 10–15 units above the minimum often lowers the price per unit significantly — and that per-unit savings can outweigh the cost of the extra units ordered. This is a strong argument for always considering ordering a bit above the minimum order offered.

Questions You Should Ask When Ordering a Custom Jersey

Before committing to a custom jersey vendor, make sure you get clear answers to the following questions:

About minimum orders:

• What's the minimum order for the technique I want?
• Does the minimum order apply per design, or per overall production batch?
• Is there a separate setup fee if the order is below a certain volume?

About pricing:

• What's the price per unit for the quantity I need?
• At what volume does the price per unit drop to the next tier?
• Does the price already include customization (printing/embroidery/sublimation), or is it calculated separately?

About production time:

• How long is the lead time from design approval to finished jerseys?
• Does the lead time change during busy seasons like the World Cup?
• Is there a rush-order option if I need it faster?

About quality:

• Are samples or mockups available before mass production?
• What's the policy if there's a defective product or one that doesn't match specifications?

Abendio: Flexible for Every Scale of Need

PT Abendio Sukses Sejahtera understands that every community and office has different-sized needs — from small futsal teams to companies with hundreds of employees. With standardized production capacity and experience serving a wide range of client segments, Abendio is ready to discuss the custom jersey solution that best fits your team's size and budget.

Abendio's consulting team will help you find the right customization technique, determine the most cost-efficient order volume, and make sure your jerseys are ready on time before your match or watch party.

💡 Want to know the minimum order and estimated price for your team's custom jersey? Contact the Abendio team now — free consultation, transparent quotes, and fast responses even during the busy 2026 World Cup season.

Conclusion

The minimum order for a custom jersey isn't a single number that applies universally — it depends on the combination of customization technique, product type, and the policies of the vendor you choose. As a general guide, however:

For small communities or teams (5–15 people): DTF is the most flexible option, with a minimum order of 5–10 pcs. Sublimation can be an option if the vendor accepts a minimum of 15 pcs — an amount that already fits most sports teams.

For medium-sized offices (20–100 employees): sublimation or plastisol with a minimum of 20–36 pcs is a great fit and offers a very competitive price per unit.

For large companies (100+ employees): every technique is available at its best price at this volume. Sublimation for full-print jerseys and plastisol for simply designed t-shirts is a combination that's often used.

Don't let the minimum-order question kill your team's enthusiasm for a watch party or a game of futsal. With the right strategy — combining orders, choosing a suitable technique, or finding a more flexible vendor — your team's dream custom jersey can always be made a reality, no matter how many members you have.